OMV will take its Austrian green-hydrogen project forward alone after Masdar, of Abu Dhabi, unexpectedly left the partnership announced in November. The Austrian company said on Friday, Reuters reported, that execution and the timetable were unchanged.

The 140 MW electrolyser, estimated at about €600 million, is meant to start by the end of 2027 and produce up to 23,000 tonnes of hydrogen a year. OMV presents it as the largest of its kind in Austria and one of the five largest in Europe. Capacity is a target, not a plant already running.

Financing is largely in place: a €450 million European Investment Bank loan and Austrian public support. Masdar was expected to bring several hundred million euros; OMV must cover or replace that equity.

Salzburger Nachrichten first wrote that the exit followed strategic changes in Abu Dhabi. OMV gave no further detail; Masdar did not comment at once. Ties with the Emirates remain: ADNOC owns 24.9% of OMV, and the chemicals businesses were recently combined under Borouge International.

The hydrogen is intended to replace some of the fossil-derived hydrogen in the group’s industrial operations. Costs, equipment, renewable-electricity prices and demand will decide whether the 2027 date holds.

Keeping the timetable is the company’s statement today, not a guarantee of start-up.

Image: OMV Schwechat refinery / Wikimedia Commons. An existing oil plant, not the planned hydrogen electrolyser. Cropped to 16:9.

Source consulted: OMV to go ahead alone with Austrian hydrogen project after Masdar exit | Reuters; European Investment Bank — energy.